St Mary’s Primary School 4-12 Duke Street, Maffra, Vic 3860 Phone: (03) 5147 1334 Fax: (03) 5147 2642 principal@stmmaffra.catholic.edu.au

Week 4 Term 4: Issue 33 Friday 3rd November 2017

2017 Dates Term 4

Week 5

Monday 6th November

- School Closure Day Staff Report Writing Day

Tuesday 7th November

- Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Thursday 9th November - Parent Communication Meeting 9am & 5pm in School Library

Friday 10th November

- P & F Cake Raffle

- 2018 Prep Orientation Day 9am to 11am

Week 6

Thursday 16th November

- Year 3 Big Day Out

Friday 17th November

- 2018 Prep Orientation Day 9am to 11am

Week 7

Friday 24th November

- P & F Cake Raffle

- Prep Orientation Day and Parent Information Session 9am to 11am

Dear Parents

What a busy week we have had at St Mary’s. After a beautiful celebration of First Communion last Sunday, a whole school focus on All Souls Day yesterday and excursions and sporting events all through the week. We ended the week today with a delicious healthy breakfast and our Walk to School Day activities. For all of these special events thank you to everyone who organised and supported the children and families.

As discussed in the last two newsletters we have a number of important dates and functions to conclude the year. This weekend we have a long weekend for the Melbourne Cup but please remember next Thursday, 9th November we have our final Communication Meeting for parents at 9am and repeated again at 5pm. To conclude next week we also have our first Prep Orientation commencing at 9am and finishing at 11.am. I am sure this will be very exciting for families and children.

Next week our staff will participate in a workshop after school to discuss our School Concert and Prep Nativity performances which will be held on Wednesday, 13th December. Over the next two weeks families will receive information about the event which will be different to previous years.

Over the next three weeks I will be starting to look at class lists for the 2018 school year. I understand that this is a most important process and also complex for the teachers and myself. I come from a much larger school and always have each and every family interests and welfare at the front of decisions that are made. If you have any information that may support friendships that work well for your children or any medical or educational information that may assist in the class structure, then you may email or send a letter in sealed envelope. Every response will be looked at in order to make fair and just placements of each child.

Lets all enjoy the next few weeks as it will go very quickly. I hope you all have a peaceful long weekend. If you have a bet on the Melbourne Cup maybe have a little wager on Johannes Vermeer who my spies tell me has been training and running very well.

Enjoy your family time.

Jason

Our Mission: At St. Mary’s School Maffra, we are a Catholic School that strives to be authentic to the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the Church. We aim to be an inclusive and nurturing community that respects, values and empowers each person to fulfil their dreams and potential. We envisage a School that provides challenging, relevant and child-centred learning experiences. We believe that the social, emotional, moral, spiritual and physical wellbeing of our students is pivotal to student health, safety, learning and success.

School Fees: Due date for the 3rd and Final Instalment of School Fees and Levies was last Friday 27th October 2017 If you have outstanding fees from this year please pay by EFT as soon as possible. If you require a new statement please contact the Office and one will be sent home. Please note we now also have EFTPOS facilities as another method of payment. Thankyou to those families who have been prompt with their School Fee payments so far. Year 5/6 Hooptime and SSV Basketball: This week our 5/6 Boys competed in both Hooptime and SSV Basketball, coming runners-up in both. They represented our school fantastically, a big thanks to Bree Burgiel and Ben Stobie for coaching. Gippsland Water: Congratulations to Levi Henkel on his achievement in the Gippsland Water poster competition, Levi won both his section and the overall prize. As well as his own prizes, the school also received $500.

National Water Week makes a splash across Australia during the third week of October each year. It acts as a timely reminder that access to clean water is hugely important to every aspect of our daily lives and that we each have a role to play in ensuring that we protect our natural environments and use water wisely. The theme for National Water Week this year was Water - The Heart of our Culture. St Mary’s P & F Living Fundraiser Drive: A Living Fundraiser carry bag has been sent home this week. The carry bag includes 5 Christmas Card packs (5 cards per pack) which are sold for $7.50 each per pack and 5 individual herb kits which are sold for $7.50 each. You will also find a money envelope and product sheet in your bag. Please note that all unsold products may be returned to the School Office. All monies and unsold products are to be returned to the School Office by Friday 24th November. If you have any queries, please contact Linda on 0488 411 021 or lindahunt@live.com.au Thanks you for your support.

Principal’s Award

Class Award

Prep Ella Rees Darby Higgins

1/2B Ashlyn Harrington Amber Bates

3/4D Lilly McQuillen Sonny Batalha

3/4E Charlie Ross Kendra Austin-Bainbridge

4/5F Mia Humphris Chloe Rees

Science Charlie Gellie Tara Dunsmuir

Happy birthday to the Following

children who have celebrated birthdays

so far this year!

October

31st Katie Toscano 4/5F November 04th Cory Felmingham 5/6G

Awards: Congratulations to the following children who received awards at assembly:

Missing/Lost:

We have 4 Sports Jackets (unnamed) In Lost Property box.

WEEKDAY MASSES: Maffra: ** MONDAYS: availability will be announced at Masses the Sunday prior. ** 8

th Nov: Wed 5.00pm followed by ½ hour Adoration &

Reconciliation 9

th Nov: Thur. 9.30am

10th

Nov: Fri. 10.15am Stretton Park

11th

Nov: Sat. 9.30am Heyfield: 7

th Nov: Tues. 9.30am

RECONCILIATION: Maffra: Saturday – For Half Hour after 9.30am Mass (And any other time by request). Heyfield: 5.20pm-5.45pm prior to Saturday evening Mass

WEEKEND MASSES:

MAFFRA: Sunday 9.00am HEYFIELD: Saturday 6.00pm COWWARR: 1

st & 3

rd Sunday 11.00am

NEWRY: 2

nd & 4

th Sunday 11.00am

DARGO: 5

th Sunday

Parish News:

School Closure Day - Monday 6th November

Public Holiday (Melbourne Cup) - Tuesday 7th November

NEWRY CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Friday 22

nd December 2017

7pm for 7.30 start. Clyne’s Barn Upper Maffra rd. Newry.

PRACTISES Mondays 4.30-5.30 beginning Nov. 13th At Newry Hall. Enquiries:

Christine Clyne 51451414 / 0447220950 Christa Dwyer 51451415 christadwyer@aussiebb.com.au

Ch i l d ren shou l d p l ay ou t s i de

I strongly believe that children should play outside and here are my reasons why. Firstly children could get sore eyes from electronic devices such as TVs computers and I pads. On top of all that it all wastes valuable energy. Secondly it is good for children to play outside in the fresh air and have lots of fun outside so they can be healthy and happy people. Lastly I can understand TVs are cool but all that wasted time, I mean come on people! We don’t have to watch the TV all day do we? In conclusion I believe children should always play outside and I hope you agree By Jack Nowak

It is important for children to play outside

I strongly believe that all children should play outside.

Firstly all children need to go outside come play, and get some fresh air. Children need to reset their mind for when they come back inside to do work.

I also believe children have fun outside playing games and making new friends. Also they can explore and release their creativity with their friends and family.

Further on all children can play games like sports and running, jumping, skipping and jogging. If the children are inside they can get hurt more, and they cannot get fresh air

inside.

In conclusion all children need to have fun and they need to get fresh air and they need to play outside with their friends and family.

By Paz

Walk to School Breakfast